The Univ. of NC yesterday "signed another sweeping and
lucrative apparel deal with Nike, a move that over the next
five years will mean $7.1 million in cash and sports gear"
for the school, according to Steve Elling of the Raleigh
NEWS & OBSERVER. Elling: "By the time separate contracts
between Nike and UNC's coaches are completed and factored
in, the deal could be worth $11.1 million." Under the deal,
Nike will provide footwear and uniforms for all UNC teams by
January 1 after a deal between adidas and UNC's soccer
programs ends. UNC's previous Nike deal, which ran from
'93-97, was valued at $4.5M and included coaches contracts.
Nike will receive eight VIP tickets and two sideline passes
to all UNC football games, eight passes to football bowl
games and NCAA Tournament basketball games, as well as eight
passes to all UNC sports teams' home games. Nike will also
receive "prominent" logo placement in UNC media guides,
programs and other promo materials (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER,
7/10). UNC's Chancellors Academic Enhancement Fund will
also receive $400,000 a year and one UNC student a year will
intern at Nike's OR headquarters (USA TODAY, 7/10).
RA-RA RAGS: Many Southeastern schools "are running up
record profits with their memorabilia," according to Kevin
Salwen of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. In Collegiate Licensing
Co.'s (CLC) latest rankings, 10 of its top 25 schools in
terms of product sales are in the Southeast, including five
of the top 10: UNC at No. 2; Univ. of FL at No. 4; Univ. of
TN at No. 7; FSU at No. 8; and Univ. of AL at No. 9. CLC
President Patrick Battle said that royalties for schools in
the region have grown more than 5% each year, even though
sales in the $2.25B collegiate-merchandising industry "have
leveled off in the past three years." UNC has received a
record $2.1M in royalties since last summer, a 13.5%
increase over the previous year, while TN has seen a 20%
rise to a record $1.8M (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/9).
